News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

March 10, 2014

That the 49ers did not release cornerback Carlos Rogers today means they have the option of making him a so-called "post-June 1" transaction, which would create more savings on this year's salary cap. To do that, the team must release Rogers, who is due to count a team-high $8.1 million against the salary cap, after 1 p.m. Tuesday, the start of the new league year.

Doing so would mean a salary-cap savings of $6.6 million in 2014, according to calculations by CSN Bay Area. That would put the 49ers about $16.5 million under the salary cap and give them more room to try to sign free agents, including safety Donte Whitner, as well as their 2013 draft class. The post-June 1 designation, however, would mean that Rogers would count $1.5 million against the 2015 salary cap. Next year's salary cap is expected to be in excess of $140 million, up from this year's $133 million figure.

Releasing him at 1 p.m. also allows Rogers, one of the veteran leaders of the defense the last three years, the benefit of the full free agency period.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.